The Complete Guide to Finding the Mammals of Australia

I have posted before about the new http://www.zoochat.com/183/finding-mammals-north-america-402493/ (which I bought and liked, although I cannot really judge its value or accuracy because I haven't been to North America), and now there is an Australian book of similar nature which should interest at least some of the members in Australia. I shall be buying a copy when it is out (in December in Australia).

I saw the book advertised as well, and will also be purchasing it when it comes out. I've seen more mammal species in Africa than I have in Australia and I'd like to rectify that (or at least narrow the margin: 73 in Africa as opposed to 34 in Oz, of which 5 were introduced.)

I saw the book advertised as well, and will also be purchasing it when it comes out. I've seen more mammal species in Africa than I have in Australia and I'd like to rectify that (or at least narrow the margin: 73 in Africa as opposed to 34 in Oz, of which 5 were introduced.)

Looks like a decent book, will have a look at it when its in store. Will be interesting to read the suggestions for those looking for Marsupial Moles, among others.

Click to expand...

ah yes, the mammal I would most like to see in Australia. I have read several times the best bet is just to keep a look out after heavy rain because then they may be found on the surface. Pretty slim though.

I was thinking about marsupial moles a while ago. They don't dig burrows - they simply "swim" through the surface sand, which collapses behind them - so I'm guessing that despite being rarely seen they must be pretty common, because otherwise how do individuals find each other? So just go sit in the desert for a while and eventually one will swim past. Simple.

Has anyone got this? If so, is it worth getting?
I recently ordered 'Finding Australian Birds' and it arrived today. It seems brilliant, but also very large and heavy so with that, and a field guide for birds, and a field guide for mammals that's a lot of books to carry. So I'm undecided about whether to get the mammal finding book as well.

I haven't yet (I was going to wait until when I might actually need it, but I might just go ahead and buy it now anyway) - however in case you missed when I posted this on the first page, there's a preview of quite a bit of the book which you can read through on the CSIRO link (click the preview button under the book cover): Complete Guide to Finding the Mammals of Australia, David Andrew, 9780643098145

I just looked at the Cairns bit and discovered that striped possums are apparently findable at night along a boardwalk between Collins Ave and the Centenary Lakes - I wish I'd known that when I was in Cairns!!

As for books, you're not going to be carrying the "Where To Find..." ones about with you, they are reference to be left in your accommodation. So go ahead and buy this one as well.

My copy arrived in late December, but stuck on Christmas Island there isn't much I can do at present in respect to mammal-watching.

The book is broken up into 10 chapters, one for each state or territory plus oceanic islands and external territories, and boat-based whale and dolphin-watching.

Each state is broken into smaller sections and various locations numbered (the same as "Finding Australian Birds" by Dolby and Clarke), and for each location Key Species and other possibilities are listed first before specific details on the best place to find each.

The Oceanic Islands and External Territories chapter covers Lord Howe, Norfolk, Christmas, Cocos (Keeling), Heard and Macquarie Islands and the Australian Antarctic Territories. The chapter on boat-based cetacean watching lists all the towns/cities that have this activity, and details the species usually seen.

This is followed by colour plates of many of the commoner species, a mammal-finding guide that lists every species and where to best find them (with references back to the main body of the book), and some appendices: Introduced Mammals; Directory; Glossary; and Glossary of Botanical and Habitat terms.

I haven't used the book yet (apart from the small part on Christmas Island) but will when I return to the mainland. However, it looks really good and for me it's gonna be very good value for money.

Potential buyers should be warned though - the rarer the animal the more likely the references will be that your species "is often seen" at a particular location, but there are never any guarantees (which is only common sense).